PD News

November 19, 2009

Fleeing from police produces more charges

PITTSTON – A city man who was rescued from a ravine after a Tuesday night foot chase has been charged.

Marc Keating, 33, of James Street, was arraigned Wednesday morning and charged with escape and resisting arrest. He was also charged with being a fugitive from justice.

Keating was jailed at Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $4,000 total bail.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Pittston Township police:

Officer Peter Hockenberry observed a Toyota, driven by Keating, running a stop sign on Oak Street around 7 p.m. The incident that led to Keating’s arrest began shortly after that during a routine traffic stop on the Pittston Bypass in front of Galli’s Auto Sales.

Keating, on whom there was active warrant for arrest, ran away after officers learned he was wanted in Louisiana on drug charges.

Hockenberry ordered Keating out of the vehicle to explain to Keating what was going to happen. After Keating was searched, he ran away from the rookie officer.

Assistant Chief Darrin Bidwell of the Hughestown Police Department was called out to assist. A Jenkins Township officer also assisted in the chase.

Hockenberry ran after Keating, who slid down an embankment that runs into an old creek bed behind the bypass. The three officers and Keating could not get back up and firefighters were called to rescue them.

Hockenberry and Keating were taken to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township.

An extradition hearing is scheduled in the county court on Nov. 25.

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